The Role of Community Involvement in Sustainable Event Planning
Upadhayaya, Sarip (2025)
2025
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https://urn.fi/URN:NBN:fi:amk-2025052616464
https://urn.fi/URN:NBN:fi:amk-2025052616464
Tiivistelmä
This thesis explores at how involvement of local communities can make event planning more sustainable. It explains why sustainability in events is important and points out that there is not enough research on how to include communities effectively. The main goals are to explore the benefits of community involvement, understand the challenges, and suggest ways to improve it. The research focuses on five international festivals to give a global view, but it also notes that the results may not apply to every type of event.
The theoretical framework chapter explains the main ideas behind sustainable event planning. Which includes taking caring for the environment, supporting local people, and making sure events are economically good. It highlights the role of the community and uses some theories like, stakeholder theory and social capital theory to show how working together leads to better results. It also talks about common problems, like limited resources or resistance to change, and introduces helpful models such as Community-Based Participatory Theory.
Methodologically, the study employs a qualitative approach, by combining case study analysis with semi-structured interviews. The research design focuses on five international festivals, which was selected for their cultural diversity and documented success in community engagement. Interviews with event organizers provide practical information into the challenges and benefits of participatory planning. Data collection and analysis methods, including thematic analysis, are detailed to ensure reliability and validity. Also, ethical considerations are addressed to maintain participant confidentiality and research integrity.
The findings chapter presents results from the case studies and interviews, which is highlighting successful practices in community-driven events. Key themes include the environmental benefits of local participation, such as waste reduction and resource efficiency, as well as social and economic impacts like cultural preservation and economic empowerment. Challenges such as stakeholder misalignment and resource constraints are also identified. A comparative analysis reveals patterns in participatory decision-making and the adaptability of sustainability strategies across different cultural contexts.
The discussion chapter synthesizes the findings, connecting them to the theoretical framework and offers actionable recommendations. It emphasizes the need for early community involvement, capacity-building initiatives, and culturally sensitive planning to improve sustainability. The author reflects on the research process, acknowledging its transformative impact and the lessons learned about inclusivity and resilience. The thesis concludes by advocating for a balanced approach which prioritizes community ownership, ensuring events are not only environmentally responsible but also socially meaningful and economically viable.
The theoretical framework chapter explains the main ideas behind sustainable event planning. Which includes taking caring for the environment, supporting local people, and making sure events are economically good. It highlights the role of the community and uses some theories like, stakeholder theory and social capital theory to show how working together leads to better results. It also talks about common problems, like limited resources or resistance to change, and introduces helpful models such as Community-Based Participatory Theory.
Methodologically, the study employs a qualitative approach, by combining case study analysis with semi-structured interviews. The research design focuses on five international festivals, which was selected for their cultural diversity and documented success in community engagement. Interviews with event organizers provide practical information into the challenges and benefits of participatory planning. Data collection and analysis methods, including thematic analysis, are detailed to ensure reliability and validity. Also, ethical considerations are addressed to maintain participant confidentiality and research integrity.
The findings chapter presents results from the case studies and interviews, which is highlighting successful practices in community-driven events. Key themes include the environmental benefits of local participation, such as waste reduction and resource efficiency, as well as social and economic impacts like cultural preservation and economic empowerment. Challenges such as stakeholder misalignment and resource constraints are also identified. A comparative analysis reveals patterns in participatory decision-making and the adaptability of sustainability strategies across different cultural contexts.
The discussion chapter synthesizes the findings, connecting them to the theoretical framework and offers actionable recommendations. It emphasizes the need for early community involvement, capacity-building initiatives, and culturally sensitive planning to improve sustainability. The author reflects on the research process, acknowledging its transformative impact and the lessons learned about inclusivity and resilience. The thesis concludes by advocating for a balanced approach which prioritizes community ownership, ensuring events are not only environmentally responsible but also socially meaningful and economically viable.